WineBookGirl

Sunday, July 23, 2017

The stage: Christian Prudhomme's commentIt'll
be time for facts and figures. First of all time to check the number of
riders who will enter the world of Giants of the road. Time to count
the seconds or minutes separating the best on the final podium. But the
finish on the Champs-Élysées is also a territory for sprinters. The
British and the Germans have reigned there without sharing these last
few years. Will they finally meet a worthy enough rival?Live: Time for a parade.

Barguil flat and some stress as he chased back, but things were essentially going to plan. It had even stopped raining!Ten kilometers to go and it was all together. Stybar with a little trip off the front, as the sprint teams set up.

Wine: Pouillon Solera Champagne Brut Premier Cru NVFrom Copake WineFrom an importer: The Pouillon family has been growing grapes in the region for over a
century, but it wasn’t until 1947 when Fabrice’s grandfather, Roger
Pouillon, decided to produce wine from his holdings along with the help
of his wife, Bernedette, and his uncle, Louis Baulant, a well-known
winemaker and consultant in the region. The estate continued to grow
over succeeding decades as grape contracts expired allowing the family
terroirs to be reincorporated into the Pouillon estate. James Pouillon,
Fabrice’s father, joined the firm in 1964 and modernized the cellar by
adding enamel-lined tanks and gyropalletes. Fabrice joined his father
in 1998 after finishing degrees in both business and oenology school,
and he has taken the winery in an exciting new direction. Working in the
grand cru of Aÿ and throughout the Vallée de la Marne and the Montagne
de Reims, Fabrice is crafting articulate, expressive, terroir-driven
wines that are vibrantly aromatic and intricate on the palate.The idea of this cuvée is to erase the influence of vintage and focus
solely on terroir. It is 50% each chardonnay and pinot noir and all from
Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. Every year, 30% is racked off for secondary
fermentation; it is aged sur latte prior to disgorgement at which point
30% new wine is added. Up until the 2010 vintage was added, the entire
Solera was in steal; since this time it is all in oak wiht full
malolactic. Wisteria, blueberry, a hint of bitter chocolate and a lemony
brightness. This is 1997-2010 with 5 grams MCR.

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Marseille: From Michelin:Straddling the East and the West, Europe and
Africa, Marseille is a fabulous melting pot of cultures. This
cosmopolitan atmosphere is evident throughout the city - around the
emblematic Vieux Port, the bustling heart of the city;
in the Le Panier district with its narrow streets reminiscent of Italy
and Corsica; in the Eastern markets of Noailles or Belsunce resembling a
great open-air souk; along La Canebière, where hints of a glorious past
remain; or on the Corniche where the villas boast sea views, and
minuscule creeks can suddenly be glimpsed at the end of the narrow
streets

Marseille, front door
to Provence. Founded in 600 BC by the Greeks from Phocaea, Marseille is
the oldest city in France and the second largest after Paris.
The city is home to almost 900,000 people living in its 16 districts,
most of which have held onto their authentic village atmosphere.
Marseille has much to offer to its locals and tourists: an incredible
coastline, a harbor that turns foreign sailors green with envy and 300
days of sunshine every year!
Marseille has an impressive natural heritage with numerous lush parks in
the heart of the city, offering refreshing havens when the sun is
beating down. Just a few kilometres from the Vieux-Port lies the
Calanques National Park, which is the perfect spot for year-round
outdoor activities. The famous Calanques cover 20 kilometres with
untamed creeks to explore and clear blue water to enjoy.
A dozen museums exhibit a wide variety of collections from antiquity to
modern art, and several galleries display the work of famous artists and
rising stars. Marseille was the European Capital of Culture in 2013 and
the schedule promises to have a variety of entertainment all year long.
The city and region will host over 400 events, including performances,
street art, exhibitions, theatre, literary debates, and Mediterranean
cooking.
As you stroll around this Mediterranean city you will see its impressive
heritage for yourself. Marseille is brimming with hidden gems from the
old town of Panier to the Second Empire buildings and the Roman
churches.
Marseille is now also known for its economic projects, particularly with
the Euroméditerranée project, which has seen major architects such as
Zaha Hadid, Kengo Kuma and Stefano Boeri redesign the city. The
Vieux-Port has been fully reworked by the architects at Norman Foster.
This fantastic location will be pedestrianised to restore it to its
former glory in Marseille.
So, are you ready for a trip back in time?

Read more at: http://us.france.fr/en/discover/marseille-0

Marseille, front door
to Provence. Founded in 600 BC by the Greeks from Phocaea, Marseille is
the oldest city in France and the second largest after Paris.
The city is home to almost 900,000 people living in its 16 districts,
most of which have held onto their authentic village atmosphere.

Read more at: http://us.france.fr/en/discover/marseille-0

Marseille, front door
to Provence. Founded in 600 BC by the Greeks from Phocaea, Marseille is
the oldest city in France and the second largest after Paris.
The city is home to almost 900,000 people living in its 16 districts,
most of which have held onto their authentic village atmosphere.
Marseille has much to offer to its locals and tourists: an incredible
coastline, a harbor that turns foreign sailors green with envy and 300
days of sunshine every year!
Marseille has an impressive natural heritage with numerous lush parks in
the heart of the city, offering refreshing havens when the sun is
beating down. Just a few kilometres from the Vieux-Port lies the
Calanques National Park, which is the perfect spot for year-round
outdoor activities. The famous Calanques cover 20 kilometres with
untamed creeks to explore and clear blue water to enjoy.
A dozen museums exhibit a wide variety of collections from antiquity to
modern art, and several galleries display the work of famous artists and
rising stars. Marseille was the European Capital of Culture in 2013 and
the schedule promises to have a variety of entertainment all year long.
The city and region will host over 400 events, including performances,
street art, exhibitions, theatre, literary debates, and Mediterranean
cooking.
As you stroll around this Mediterranean city you will see its impressive
heritage for yourself. Marseille is brimming with hidden gems from the
old town of Panier to the Second Empire buildings and the Roman
churches.
Marseille is now also known for its economic projects, particularly with
the Euroméditerranée project, which has seen major architects such as
Zaha Hadid, Kengo Kuma and Stefano Boeri redesign the city. The
Vieux-Port has been fully reworked by the architects at Norman Foster.
This fantastic location will be pedestrianised to restore it to its
former glory in Marseille.
So, are you ready for a trip back in time?

Read more at: http://us.france.fr/en/discover/marseille-0

Marseille, front door
to Provence. Founded in 600 BC by the Greeks from Phocaea, Marseille is
the oldest city in France and the second largest after Paris.
The city is home to almost 900,000 people living in its 16 districts,
most of which have held onto their authentic village atmosphere.
Marseille has much to offer to its locals and tourists: an incredible
coastline, a harbor that turns foreign sailors green with envy and 300
days of sunshine every year!
Marseille has an impressive natural heritage with numerous lush parks in
the heart of the city, offering refreshing havens when the sun is
beating down. Just a few kilometres from the Vieux-Port lies the
Calanques National Park, which is the perfect spot for year-round
outdoor activities. The famous Calanques cover 20 kilometres with
untamed creeks to explore and clear blue water to enjoy.
A dozen museums exhibit a wide variety of collections from antiquity to
modern art, and several galleries display the work of famous artists and
rising stars. Marseille was the European Capital of Culture in 2013 and
the schedule promises to have a variety of entertainment all year long.
The city and region will host over 400 events, including performances,
street art, exhibitions, theatre, literary debates, and Mediterranean
cooking.
As you stroll around this Mediterranean city you will see its impressive
heritage for yourself. Marseille is brimming with hidden gems from the
old town of Panier to the Second Empire buildings and the Roman
churches.
Marseille is now also known for its economic projects, particularly with
the Euroméditerranée project, which has seen major architects such as
Zaha Hadid, Kengo Kuma and Stefano Boeri redesign the city. The
Vieux-Port has been fully reworked by the architects at Norman Foster.
This fantastic location will be pedestrianised to restore it to its
former glory in Marseille.
So, are you ready for a trip back in time?

The stage:Christian Prudhomme's commentFor
the very first time, Marseille will welcome an individual time-trial. A
final opportunity to witness a change in the hierarchy and why not see
the Yellow Jersey switch shoulders. Set entirely on urban roads with a
passage on the Corniche and by the Vieux-Port (old harbour), the course
will be rather flat except for a climb up to the Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde
cathedral. The start and finish will take place inside the legendary
Vélodrome football stadium, recently re-named Orange...Live: Since tomorrow is mainly ceremonial, we have one more to decide it all. Can Froome lose the Tour today? Sure, but most don't think it will happen. The weather: very hot and dry. The course: mainly flat with a significant climb towards the end. Our first finisher, Luke Rowe at 31:09. Meanwhile, Taylor Phinney is passing rider after rider. He'd finish in 29:21.

The wine: Chateau Simone Rosé From the importer: This historic estate, situated in the hills just south of
Aix-en-Provence, has been in the hands of the Rougier family for two
centuries and holds a virtual monopoly on the appellation of Palette. I
have admired the wines of Château Simone and have followed the evolution
of this domaine over the years. Now, many years after my initial
introduction (1981) to the Rougiers, we have been asked to marry our
work to theirs. It is our privilege to do so.

Château Simone encompasses twenty hectares of vineyards that sit on
limestone soils at elevations between 500 and 750 feet above sea level
on the slopes of Montaiguet. The special microclimate of this
appellation is influenced by the encircling pine forests, the mass of
Mont Sainte-Victoire, and the Arc River. The vineyards were
reconstituted after the invasion of phylloxera and many vines are over a
century old. The Rougiers maintain the particular vinification methods
developed and cherished over many decades. For those of you who are not
familiar with these wines, whether rouge, blanc or rosé, we believe you
will find them to be compelling and unique.

All of the grapes are hand harvested, destemmed, lightly pressed and
fermented for 15 to 20 days in small wooden vats with only wild yeast,
then put into small foudre to rest on the lees. The white is
predominantly Clairette, with small amounts of Grenache Blanc and Ugni
Blanc, and a dash of Bourboulenc, Muscat Blanc, Picpoul, Furmint and
Sémillon. Fermentation takes place at a relatively warm 68 degrees and
aged for one year in 20–30 hl casks then one year in older barrels. The
red from Simone is an elegant yet well-constituted wine of great depth.
It is primarily composed of Grenache and Mourvèdre but its special
character reflects the presence of a mélange other grape varieties,
albeit in small proportion, including Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan,
Cabernet Sauvignon, Castet, Manosquin, Théoulier, Tibouren, Picpoul Noir
and Muscat de Hambourg. (The rosé is the exact same blend) Bottled
after 18–24 months of aging in foudres and one year or more in aged
barrique, it is assembled without filtration. The wine is a classic that
deserves to be aged in order to best appreciate its many nuances: plum,
pine resin, cinnamon, truffle and spice among other sensations. We
invite you to share our pleasure.

Food: Navettes, these boat-shaped, orange-blossom-scented sugar cookies, named after an
unmanned boat bearing a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary that arrived in
Marseille during the 13th century, are a signature Marseillais treat. Try this recipe from Saveur.

Friday, July 21, 2017

Where are we?Embrun / Salon-de-Provence Embrun:From the local travel site, with some help from Google translate: The town of Embrun is nestled on its rock and is open to the valley of the Durance.Its
origins are Celtic, its name indicates its topographical location:
Embrun comes from Eburodunum, Ebur: water and Dunum: elevation.Capital
of the Maritime Alps under the Roman Empire, it became the seat of a
bishopric from the 4th century onwards, and from an archbishopric in the
12th century. The arrow of Notre-Dame du Réal Cathedral, the lions'
porch and the Treasury of the Prince-Archbishops are the witnesses of
this rich religious past. Its colorful streets and its sunny squares,
welcome you for moments of relaxation and pleasure.Ideally
located on Serre-Ponçon, the town offers a multitude of mountain
activities, discover nearby, the fauna and flora of the Ecrins National
Park. But also nautical activities on the Durance, the lake of Embrun
and of course the lake of Serre-Ponçon.Salon-de-Provence:So many things to say, but how could we resist the:"The Home of Nostradamus" Museum Built around the enigmatic
character, Michel de Nostredame known as Nostradamus (1503 - 1566), who
studied the past, the present...and the future up until 3797.The
Museum is located in the house where he lived from 1547 until his death
and where he wrote his famous "Prophecies" ... Discover this
multi-faceted man engaged in Medicine, Pharmacy, Astrology, and
Humanism, alongside the great Rabelais, Catherine de Medici, Charles IX,
Cosimo Ruggieri, Marguerite de Navarre ...An audio tour of 40
minutes (10 scenes) will allow you to discover the life of this
illustrious man and his scientific and philosophical works. The Museum
also features temporary exhibitions, a bookshop and a collection of
documents.Specialities: Nostradamus (chocolate), gibassier (pastry), salonenque (olives), Marseille soap The stage: Christian Prudhomme's commentBeware
not to be gently rocked by the relaxed atmosphere of the villages of
Provence, the lavender fields and the olive trees of Lubéron. It'll be
the longest stage of the Tour and will start by a hilly portion, tough
on the legs. It'll be a final opportunity for escapees to witness glory.
Just as long as they manage to stay clear of the hungry pack all the
way to the finish line.Live: Almost there.

Pretty but quiet tells you all you need to know about the stage so far. Jens! on tv suggesting that Sky may work later in the stage to get a few extra seconds foe Froome. Or is he just trying to keep us glued to our screens?

Wine: Domaine de la Realtiere Pastel Rose From Copake Wine:Christy says: one of my favorites this year and every year! Domaine de la Realtiere is located in Provence, between Jouques
and Rians, at an altitude of more than 1300 feet, just across from Mount
Saint Victoire. The 20 acres of vineyard are surrounded by an olive
grove and pine forests. In 1994 it became the property of Jean Louis
Michelland, who began to work the vineyards organically. When Jean Louis
died in 2001 while working in the vineyard, his son Pierre took over,
following the practices established by his father. While eight different
varietals are planted here, the rose is a blend of three, mainly
Cinsault and Grenache with just a splash of Syrah.

Food: Gibassier is a traditional French bread scented with anise and orangeTry this recipe from Sweet Paul.

Thursday, July 20, 2017

As the King’s engineer, Vauban
aged 34, was responsible for supervising works to fortify the kingdom.
Thus, three of the 160 forts that he had built or restored, are in the
Hautes-Alpes. Château-Queyras, Mont-Dauphin and Briançon. The latter two were classed as World Heritage by UNESCO in 2008.
Due to the natural terrain in Briançon, Vauban was unable to follow
any existing pattern. He designed vertical, staggered urban defences
and suggested creating a belt of forts to increase defence of the town.
In Mont-Dauphin, the fortifications, which are remarkably conserved, were built from scatch directly on a plateau.
Visiting these major sites enables us to understand part of Vauban’s genius, which is particularly spectacular in such mountain sites.
It is also an opportunity to visit the towns of Briançon and Mont-Dauphin, which are particularly attractive and lively.

Specialities: Sausage and cabbage tart, tourtons de Champsaur (fritter), genépi. Manufacture of Alpine horns and sundialsIzoard: Michelin tells me that: A legendary point in the Tour de France
cycle race; at a height of 2 360m, the pass offers interesting
contrasting scenery, with the verdant summits of the Briançonnais on one
side opposing the famous Casse Déserte and lunar landscape of the
Queyras on the other. Its orientation table explains the surrounding
mounatinous landscape: Briançonnais, Thabor, Queyras.Specialities: Cheese including Queyras blue (six cheese dairies), larch
flower syrup and liqueur, wood carving, Queyras wooden toys The stage: Christian Prudhomme's commentIt'll
be the final battle between the climbers at the heart of one of the
most spectacular and surprising sports theaters there is to offer. A
real inspiration for attackers with temperament. From Barcelonnette to
the Col de Vars, spirits and legs will be on fire. The last ten
kilomeres before the summit of the Izoard are at an average gradient of
9%. The “rendez-vous” of the Casse Déserte will add solemnity to the
hardness of percents.

Live: Up and away, or something like that. The last mountains of this year's Tour. Be sure to go and read all of the details of the climbs from Will at Podium Cafe.

Getting a gap upfront, Calmejane, Chavanel, Clarke, Pauwels, Cummings, Tulik and Vachon. With ninety five kilometers to go, they had seven minutes to the yellow jersey group as Sky saw no threat from them. Soon after they would merge with the first chase group.

AG2R has been setting up Bardet for a long time. Will he try? Given that this is the last chance to make up some time before the time trial, one would heop so.Finally some attacks from the favorites group, but it was not to be for Froome's rivals.

Wine: Uliz, Petitprez mondeusePurple and herbal, with more fruit showing with air. From the importer:To say that Antoine Petitprez is committed to
natural handmade wine is putting it mildly. During his education he was
responsible for a research program on the moons effects on wines and
vines. The first vintage of Uliz was 2008, which produced
1,200 cases from small lots of old vine fruit, all of which were
organically or biodynamically farmed.

Food: Well, alcohol. This
Savoyard is made from the génépi aromatic plants from the genus
Artemesia (commonly called Wormwood) that grow in the high mountains of
the Alps. Genepi is produced by steeping the aromatic wormwood flower
heads in a strong clear alcohol such as vodka or a pure grain alcohol
with the addition of sugar to create the liqueur.

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

La Mure: The Main town in a canton of Matheysine-Trièves in Isère. The local tourist site tells me that:

Also located on the Route Napoleon, at
the junction between Gap and Grenoble, Oisans and Trieves, La Mure is a
historic crossroads, popular since ancient times by travellers and
merchants. Its central position between Matheysine, Pays de Corps and
Valbonnais assures it of a certain economic dynamism and has done at
least since the Middle Ages : this is attested to by the ancient market
place and certain town centre houses such as the Maison Caral, with its
interior courtyard, built in the XIIth Century. This building - the
oldest in La Mure - today houses the Matheysin Museum.

Later, the Chateau de Beaumont (15th
Century), with its large crenellated round towers, the Saint
Pierre-Julien Eymard chapel (17th Century) in a mixed style with a
strong Roman influence, and the Tour de l'Horloge (18th Century) are
other remarkable monuments in the city.

Finally, the proud facade of the Hotel
de Ville (1892) recalls the prosperity which La Mure enjoyed when the
coal mining was at its height

Serre-Chevalier: Ski village alert. The musical tourist site tells me: There is more than just ski in Serre Chevalier … there is a rich heritage!
Of course our ski resort is wonderful, but our valley hides many well kept secrets …Walk around Monêtier under the snow, learn about the history of the
hot springs and this warm water that flows accross the streets. Spend a
little time in La Salle to have a look at the pieces of work that our
artists from the XVth century have left for us to admire. Finally,
realise that Chantemerle is indeed an old village that wasn’t build only
for skiing!A little break in a full week of skiing will feel good, and our villages will reveal their secrets to you.Free guided tour are available every day of the week, at 10am and 2pm, and you are going to love it !

The stage: Christian Prudhomme's comment: Climbers
battling it out for the Yellow Jersey will have two more days to
express themselves, to change the outcome or comfort a decent lead and
gain precious time. Heading towards Serre-Chevalier, we will give them
the most prestigious of what the Alps has to offer: the Col de la Croix
de Fer and then the Galibier back after a 6-year absence, going up the
Télégraphe. It's now up to them.

Live: We've been waiting for this one. Early in the stage, a crash with Barguil, Cummings and Kittel. They would all be back up and riding.

Way behind, Kittel. Sporza announcers report that: "Kittel looks horrible. Vermote and Sabatini are with him. He’s got an
icepack on his shoulder and he’s letting his arm hang as much as he can.
DS Bramati has asked him twice if he wants to quit, but Kittel said no
twice. He’s suffering, badly. He can’t even grab drinks with his right
arm. He’s in so much pain, but his mental strength is incredible. If you
know the route… It’d be a shame if the three of them finish OTT
today. You never know what could happen, but I don’t see this ending
well for Kittel. He’s already 6k behind the leaders… That’s a giant gap.
I think he doesn’t want to quit in green. Finish the stage, but then
it’s going to be out of time. He’s suffering at 8, 10 kph."

Pauwels would try to get away several times, but it would eventually be Roglic getting some space. Behind, an attack by Dan Martin, with no reaction from the yellow jersey group. Speaking of that group, it is very small, with all of the race leaders still there.Time for more attacks: Bardet, followed by Froome and Uran. Aru looked to be in trouble, but would recover. Bardet again! Fun to watch. Ahead, Roglic summits alone.

The wine: Les Grangeons de l'Albarine gamayFrom Copake WineA repeat producer, because I wanted to try the Gamay.From the producer:
Les Grangeons de l'Albarine Wine estate is composed nowadays of an
approx. 5 acres vineyards, located on different sites of Bugey area. The
main location is Argis south facing slopes, divided in two different
terroirs: Le Chateau, and Paradis, cultivated with three grapes
varities: Altesse (also known as Roussette) and Chardonnay for whites,
and Mondeuse for reds.
Another vineyard is located in Rossillon on gravely flat soils, with
50 years old gamay, chardonnay and aligoté. A third site is St Sorlin en
Bugey , on slopes facing the Rhône valley, with old vines (60 years
old) of gamay and altesse. Finally, a last plot is in Ceyzerieu, with 20
years old Maondeuse and Chasselas. The food: The local tourist site has some suggestions: This sounds comforting:Gratin DauphinoisIngredients for 4 people:
- 1 kg Bintjes potatoes
- 20 cl single cream
- 60 cl milk
- 50 g butter
- salt, pepper, pinch of Cayenne pepper, 1 clove garlicPeel and wash the potatoes. Bring the milk
to the boil, take off the heat, add the salt, pepper and unpeeled
garlic clove and leave to stand for 5 minutes.
Cut the potatoes into 3 millimetre-thick slices (without washing
them), lay in a saucepan, pour on the milk, bring to the boil and cook
for 5 minutes.
Butter a gratin dish, fill with the potatoes and even them out.
Season the single cream with salt and a pinch of Cayenne pepper
and pour over the potatoes. Finish off with the melted butter.